This week’s work seriously worried me. Aside from Real Life Family Events (RLFEs) assaulting me every other day, the words felt like they came naturally. I felt like I could concentrate and let the words flow. So, of course I’m worried I’m missing something critical! But before we talk about that, let’s look at the numbers.
Progress Report 2022 Week 42 By the Numbers
The words seemed to flow this week. In retrospect, that’s scary!
I consider any week’s word count over 10,000 words to be a success. This week, I turned in 12,314! The plot braiding worksheet for Evolution’s Hand Book 4: Blind Exodus feels a lot more solid than the initial drafts from the first three books. I almost feels like I’m getting the hang of this!
Which makes me think I need to be careful I don’t get arrogant about it! I don’t want to take anything for granted. But I’ll say this: I’m relieved the words are flowing again! I really missed it while I was working on other drafts.
Progress against Last Week’s Goals
Convince Word’s Templates to Obey Me
It took about three hours, but I finally came up with a version of Dying Breath that I think will work for the paperback. I still hate Word, and Word still hates me, but we’ve come to an agreement.
If things go well this week, and I’m doubtful at this point because of my schedule, I might upload it to Amazon and order a proof copy. That took a lot longer for Executive Action than I thought it would. Okay, I’ll be honest. I didn’t even know that was a step I needed to take! So I learned from publishing the first book.
I’ll take my time reviewing the proof copy to make sure all’s well, because another thing I learned from the first book is that it’s not enough to glance through it. I have to check each page to make sure there are no extra blank pages or other formatting errors. That is, as far as I know, the last step before publishing on December 1, 2022!
Well, aside from writing the marketing blurb. Glad I have a month left to do that!
Wait for Last Dying Breath Beta Reader
Taking my time to check the proof copy will let me keep the time window open for the final beta reader’s report, if she has time. If not, I can always issue minor corrections later.
I’ve made a decision about revisions: I’ll correct material errors, but I don’t want to rewrite the books after they are published. I think writing new material is a better use of my time. I don’t want to make the mistake George Lucas did. My favorite Star Wars is still the original 1977 version — special effect warts and all.
Now you know the chapter titles for the first seven chapters!
Continue Writing Blind Exodus
As you saw earlier, I’m happy with my output this week. I think there are three things that contributed to that:
- This is the fourth book, and I’m starting to get into a rhythm.
- The story called for a mix of established characters like Melchizedek “Dek” Conrad and Matsushita Sachi and new characters. One of them, Henry Duncan, appeared briefly in earlier books. Another, Owen Payne, is new for this book. So I had a stable to draw on.
- I took my time with the plot braiding worksheet. I let the story brew for weeks while I performed edits on other drafts. Then I set aside two or three days just to ruminate on it. I think that helped the plot reveal itself to me in more detail.
I hope these factors make this book the best so far.
Goals for the Week in Progress Report 2022 Week 42
Here are my goals for the upcoming week:
- Upload the ebook and paperback copies to Amazon and order the paperback proof copies.
- Continue writing Evolution’s Hand Book 4: Blind Exodus.
What Do You Think?
What part of the publishing process took you by surprise the first time through? Or second or third? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
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